2 ways busy nurses can find the time and energy to exercise

We all know how busy nurses are. We also know how important exercise is. So what’s a busy nurse, who knows the importance of staying active perhaps better than most, to do!? Elizabeth Scala, on The Nerdy Nurse, is on the case, dispensing advice and helping motivate you to find the little ways to keep your body moving.

This work-exercise seesaw can turn into an unhealthy, vicious cycle. If I don’t work out, I feel tired. Too tired? I just can’t get up the energy to work out. It goes on and on. Round and round. And it’s hard to get on top of our energy levels if we’re exhausted!

So my friends, what’s one way to have more energy throughout your shift? Get more exercise outside of work.

Once you’ve decided that having more energy and moving the body on a daily basis is important to you, then you’ve got to actually DO it. You need to meet your exercise barriers head on. And I’ve got some ideas to help you out!

Here are some suggestions to get you started:

Incorporate movement into your work day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park further from the entrance. Or if you take public transportation, get off at the stop prior to yours and walk the rest of the way. Walk laps of your workplace on your lunch break. Do lunges or squats in your office. You can move at any point throughout your day. Even now as you surf the internet, get up once in awhile and stand up. Stretch and give the body a break from all of that sitting around!

Find the movement that you enjoy. Some of us would rather die than go for a jog, while others quiver at the thought of joining a group exercise class. Participate in the movement, activity or physical experience that you are going to have fun with. The worst thing we can do for our healthy movement is try to do another person’s! There are so many creative ways to get up and moving. Here are a few to get your creative juices flowing: hiking, line dancing, surfing, playing in the park with your children, gardening, kayaking, adult softball and swimming.

See the full post at The Nerdy Nurse. Then, in the comments below, tell us your own tips for staying active and energized!

Spiritual Practice Nurse Elizabeth Scala is on a mission to transform the profession of nursing from the inside out. Individuals typically enter nursing with a desire to provide compassionate, heart-based care. Challenged by regulations, financial pressures and technological advancements, today’s nurse struggles to balance the art with the science of nursing. As a speaker, trainer, facilitator and author, Elizabeth inspires nursing teams to reconnect with the passionate and fulfilling joy that once called them to their career. http://elizabethscala.com/; Back to the Basics: A Nurse's Pocket Guide to Self-Care
By Elizabeth Scala